Student Pulse
By Katie Mayer
In the wise words of a past principal, Mr. Kaylor, there are three types of students: those who makes things happen, those who watch things happen and those who ask, “what happened?”
As I spend my last few weeks as a Chaffey Panther, I look back on my experience here very fondly, but feel a twinge of regret, wishing I had not been one of the students who asked the above question.
Reflecting on my time here at Chaffey College, I am reminded of the initial uncertainty I felt, and how new this responsibility was. I did not have a bell dictating when I went to class and when I went home, it was on my own accord instead.
To be an involved student requires a sense of independence and tenacity; although you have people cheering you on every step of the way, no one is incessantly seeking you out or begging for you to be involved. Community is very subtle, only able to be discovered by those willing and ambitious enough to seek it out.
I entered Chaffey with the sole intention of getting my degree to transfer. My plan was to take the classes necessary to get to a university where I could then have my “college experience”. What I failed to realize was that Chaffey provided a lot of opportunities for this college experience. And completely overlooked these opportunities, hoping for something bigger and better.
After realizing that the lack of Chaffey community was not a reflection of the school, but was my own fault, I decided to revise my priorities. Instead of trekking straight to my car after class, I began taking a few extra moments to explore my campus. I witnessed countless chances to meet others, learn new things I’d never heard of before and gave myself the chance to be the student who made things happen.
In my final semester at Chaffey, I attended panel discussions, art exhibitions at the Wignall Museum, events hosted by professors, openings of new spaces and more. Within my newfound commitment to branching out, I began finding my place within the college community. As corny as it sounds, through it all, I began to feel a sense of pride in being part of something larger than myself.
I will forever regret not exploring sooner but am immensely grateful to have learned this lesson in the first place. It also gave me the opportunity to urge other students who may be weary of stepping out of their comfort zone and getting involved to try something new. Perhaps take a new class, attend an event or even just explore the campus.
In the end, college spirit is not defined by flashy events or loud cheers like high school might be, but instead, it is the quiet moments of connection and camaraderie that bind us, students and faculty alike. As I look forward to my next steps in my academic career, I do so with a heart full of gratitude for the learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom.
I urge other students to not be the student with no pulse, with no involvement. Do not be the student who asks, “what happened?”. Make the most of your time at Chaffey, as it flies by oh so quickly.